osmotic

adjective

os·​mot·​ic äz-ˈmä-tik How to pronounce osmotic (audio)
äs-
Synonyms of osmoticnext
: of, relating to, caused by, or having the properties of osmosis
osmotically
äz-ˈmä-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce osmotic (audio)
äs-
adverb

Examples of osmotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Take over-the-counter medicines like fiber supplements, stool softeners, lubricants, stimulants, or osmotic agents. — Korin Miller, SELF, 14 Oct. 2025 So while osmotic power has potential, our current technology limits what can be extracted. — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025 Lower temperatures can inhibit feeding, swimming and osmotic abilities in warm-water fish leading to death, researchers said. — Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025 The first real push came in 2009, when the Norwegian company Statkraft built one of the world’s first prototype osmotic power plants. — New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for osmotic

Word History

Etymology

osmose or osm(osis) + -otic entry 1

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of osmotic was in 1854

Phrases Containing osmotic

Rhymes for osmotic

See All Rhymes for osmotic

Browse Nearby Words

osmotaxis
osmotic
osmotic pressure
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Osmotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osmotic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

osmotic

adjective
os·​mot·​ic -ˈmät-ik How to pronounce osmotic (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the properties of osmosis
osmotically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce osmotic (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on osmotic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for osmotic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All